By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

MINDEN — During Monday’s Town Board of Minden re-organizational meeting, the group discussed with Fort Plain Mayor Guy Barton and Village Trustee Loring Dutcher, a recently lapsed municipal agreement for shared code enforcement services.

At December’s town of Minden meeting, a resolution to extend the agreement — in place for three years — was not acted upon when it failed to receive a sponsorship or a second by the board. Because of that inaction, the contract expired Dec. 31, 2012.

The Town Board reappointed Barry Vickers code enforcement officer during Monday’s meeting. Said Supervisor Thomas Quackenbush, “As it sits right now, the budget is the same, the payment is the same, but there’s no agreement with the village,” meaning that after Dec. 31, Vickers was no longer obligated to conduct code enforcement work in the village.

Because the village has been paying Vickers’ $39,000 (plus $2,000 a year in mileage) salary from the general fund, village taxpayers would pay for Vickers’ service regardless of whether he’s required to work there.

While the village exists within the town of Minden, the municipal agreement is required in both, as they’re separate entities.

Minden Councilmember Stephen Heiser suggested that the village kick in some funding, throwing out a tentative figure of $15,000. It was discussed that if the village agreed to provide funding, the town would have to move the money they use to pay Vickers from the general fund, so that village residents aren’t charged twice.

Quackenbush stated that, no matter what happens with the municipal agreement, since the Town Board has been paying for the CEO position with balance from the general fund for five years, their 2014 budget will be impacted, at which point they’ll have to either raise taxes, vote to override the two percent tax cap, or figure out a different means of providing the salary.

Mayor Guy Barton requested that the Town Board extend the agreement through 2013 so that the Village Board can have time to look at their budget (which they complete in June, six months after the Town Board completes theirs), and come up with money, if required.

Councilmember KarolAnn Grimm suggested that the Village Board provide mileage pay, in the amount of about $2,000 per year. Barton and Dutcher tentatively agreed that they’d be able to come up with that funding, though they noted that they’d need the full Village Board’s compliance to enter into a firm agreement.

Barton and Dutcher agreed to address their board during their upcoming meeting, January 15, and report back to the town of Minden board, who, if the village agrees to provide mileage, will move forward with a new municipal agreement.

Minden reorganizes

On Monday, the Town Board of Minden made their annual organizational appointments, which included: Janet Trumbull, town registrar; Cheryl Reese, assessor clerk; Brian Muehleck, Fort Plain Fire Department fire warden; Sherman Rockwell, South Minden Fire Department fire warden; Patricia Prime, health officer; Kris Jon Karker, Youth Activity Council representative; John L. Kirkpatrick, attorney; Thomas Yager, historian; Bruce Hicks, constable; James H. Brownell, dog warden and rabies response agent; Barry A. Vickers, building and code, and zoning officer; Donna Smith, town clerk deputy; Taya Kardash, highway superintendent deputy; NBT Bank, official depository; and the C-S-E and the Recorder, official newspapers.

The Town Board, consisting of members KarolAnn Grimm, Stephen Heiser, Douglas Simmons, Todd McFee, and Supervisor Thomas Quacken-bush, will act, according to law, as the Board of Health.

Quackenbush asked Robert Perry, present during Monday’s meeting, to accept the appointment of deputy supervisor. Quackenbush said that he “believes there will be movement on this board,” in 2013, especially if he runs for county legislature, meaning that somebody will have to replace him as supervisor.

“I’ll help any way I can,” said Perry, accepting the appointment.